Park Forest Police Reports for February 24, 2012

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)–Editor’s Note: We continue our reporting on news from police reports. Besides covering the many stories from around Park Forest that otherwise might go unnoticed, we want to bring more complete coverage of police reports than is reported by other local media.

An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. All those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is the policy of eNews Park Forest to not remove items in the public record from publication. If your name is listed in the police reports, we will only add information relevant to the final disposition of the case at hand, e.g. "Mr. Smith was subsequently acquitted," "Mr. Smith entered a guilty plea," or "All charges against Mr. Smith were subsequently dropped." We will do so upon receiving and verifying proof of such disposition.

Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call 708-748-1309 and leave a message on Detective Beilke’s voice mail.

Isidro Cardenas, Jr., 19, 220 Broadway Ave., Chicago Heights, was arrested on February 14 and charged with disorderly conduct/filing a false police report, when police were dispatched to the 100 block of Blackhawk Drive to investigate a report of battery.

Four juveniles were arrested on February 13 and 14 in connection with a residential burglary reported in the 400 block of Westgate Boulevard. Police say the juveniles were responsible for $1000 in damage to the residence in that block while attempting to steal an Xbox 360 game system valued at $299.99. The juveniles were apprehended when a neighbor in that block observed the juveniles allegedly break the back door window and enter the residence. Police say the neighbor related information to SouthCom dispatch as the burglary was occurring.

Six juveniles were arrested on February 14 and issued municipal citations charged with trespassing after an anonymous caller reported seeing 5 to 6 subjects entering the detached garage of a residence in the 300 block of Miami Street.

An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on February 15 when a resident asked to see an officer after she discovered fraudulent charges on her debit card.

Audrey J. Gray, 50, 117 Illinois St., Park Forest, was arrested on February 15 and charged with battery when police were dispatched to the 200 block of Wilson Street to investigate a report of battery.

Elaine Backus, 7346 S. Oglesby Ave., Chicago, was arrested on February 15 and charged with criminal trespass to vehicle after an officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Grant Street in reference to a report of a motor vehicle theft.

A juvenile was arrested on February 15 and processed on a charge of aggravated assault when officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Indianwood Boulevard to investigate a report of aggravated assault.

An officer was dispatched to the 2800 block of Western Avenue on February 16 to investigate a report of identity theft. A resident told police that, while attempting to file his taxes, he discovered that his tax return was rejected because someone had already filed using his name and Social Security number. Police are investigating.

A juvenile was arrested on February 17 and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of cannabis when police responded to Rich East High School, 300 Sauk Trail, to investigate a report of a student in possession of a controlled substance.

James Romaine, 21, 449 Tomahawk St., Park Forest, was arrested on February 17 and charged with disorderly conduct when officers in the parking lot of Rich East High School at the end of a basketball game observed a large crowd of people and several subjects started fighting, according to police.

Jamel D. Holmes, 29, 118 Westwood Dr., Park Forest, was arrested on February 17 and charged with domestic battery, possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card, and resisting arrest when police were dispatched to the 100 block of Westwood Drive to investigate a domestic battery complaint.

A door of a residence in the 300 block of Manitowoc Street was reported damaged on February 18. Police were called to the residence to investigate a possible residential burglary. Police say nothing in the home appeared to have been disturbed and nothing was noted missing.

Reginald I. Powell, Jr., 37, 8582 Old Western Ave, Park Forest, was arrested on February 18 and charged with felony driving while license was revoked and no valid insurance when an officer observed a vehicle traveling northbound on Western Avenue near the intersection of Western Avenue and Old Plank Trail.

Police were dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on February 18 to investigate a report of child abuse. Police said that a five-year-old juvenile told them in front of a relative that he has been kept locked in a closet for hours at a time. Police said that statement and others prompted a phone call to DCFS. DCFS is investigating.

Benjamin J. Stocker, 35, 1334 Cougar Run, Manteno, was arrested on February 19 and traffic citations charging no rear registration light, failure to signal a turn, and no insurance when an officer observed that the vehicle Stocker was driving northbound on Indianwood Boulevard near Oswego Street had no rear registration light. A passenger in the vehicle, Willis T. Clark, 18, 260 Hickory St., Chicago Heights, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of PCP and cocaine, according to police.

An HP Pavillion laptop computer and $30 cash were reported stolen from a residence in the 200 block of Arcadia Street on February 20

Susan V. Stewart, 26, 145 Hemlock St., Park Forest, was arrested on February 22 and charged with domestic battery when police were dispatched to the 100 block of Hemlock Street to investigate a report of domestic battery.